Le attività di ricerca della presente tesi di dottorato si sono focalizzata principalmente sulla parassitofauna dei pesci marini allevati in Grecia ed in Italia con particolare attenzione allo studio degli ectoparassiti di maggior rilievo sanitario in maricoltura ed alla ricerca di endoparassiti di potenziale interesse zoonosico, in particolare larve di nematodi Anisakidae del genere Anisakis. Nel corso del triennio sono stati sottoposti ad esami parassitologici 916 spigole (Dicentrarchus labrax) e 462 orate (Sparus aurata) prelevate presso diverse tipologie di allevamenti greci ed italiani. Per quanto concerne le spigole, la presenza di ectoparassiti è stata riscontrata nel 29,2% e nel 61,9% dei soggetti provenienti rispettivamente da impianti siti in Grecia ed in Italia, mentre le orate hanno presentato percentuali di positività rispettivamente del 87,5% e del 26,7%. Gli ectoparassiti dominanti sono risultati essere il monogeneo Diplectanum aequans nelle spigole ed il ciliato Cryptocaryon irritans e il monogeneo Furnestinia echeneis nelle orate, sebbene sia stato possibile studiare anche il coinvolgimento di altri ectoparassiti, quali il monogeneo Sparicotyle chrysophrii ed il dinoflagellato Amyloodinium ocellatum, nel determinismo di alcuni episodi morbosi. Le osservazioni istopatologiche hanno permesso di caratterizzare le lesioni causate dagli ectoparassiti a diverse intensità d’infestazione. Per quanto concerne la ricerca di parassiti zoonosici, con particolare riferimento agli stadi larvali di nematodi Anisakidae del genere Anisakis, si sono condotti esami parassitologici a livello di cavità viscerale e di muscolo laterale in tutti i soggetti provenienti da allevamenti in gabbia (626 soggetti, di cui 441 spigole e 185 orate). Tutti i soggetti esaminati sono risultati negativi, indicando come il rischio di infestazione da larve di nematodi anisakidi possa essere considerato trascurabile in spigole ed orate allevate in gabbia, come già dimostrato per il salmone atlantico (EFSA, 2010). / The research activities of this PhD thesis have been focused primarily on parasitofauna of marine fish reared in Greece and Italy, with particular reference to the study of ectoparasites showing main health significance in mariculture and to the search of potentially zoonotic endoparasites, namely larval stages of Anisakidae nematodes owing to Anisakis genus. During the three-years research period, 916 European sea bass and 462 sea bream, coming from different farming systems in Greece and Italy, have been subjected to parasitological examinations. With reference to sea bass, the presence of ectoparasites has been detected in 29,2% and 61,9% of fish coming from Greek and Italian farms respectively. Sea breams showed prevalence of ectoparasites of 87,5% and 26,7% (Greece and Italy respectively). Dominant ectoparasites were: the monogenean Diplectanum aequans in sea bass, and the ciliate Cryptocaryon irritans and the monogenean Furnestinia echeneis in sea bream, although it was observed also the involvement of other ectoparasites, such as the monogenean Sparicotyle chrysophrii and the dinoflagellate Amyloodinium ocellatum, in the etiology of some disease outbreaks. Histopathogical observations allowed to study and characterize the lesions caused by the ectoparasites found during the survey, with relation to infection intensity. Concerning the research activities aimed at assess the possible presence of zoonotic helminths, namely the larval stages of Anisakidae nematodes of Anisakis genus, parasitological exams have been carried out on visceral organs and lateral muscle of all the 626 samples coming from cages (441 sea bass and 185 sea bream). All the fish resulted negative for Anisakis larvae, pointing out that the risk of infestation by zoonotic anisakid nematodes may be considered negligible in caged sea bass and sea bream, as already assessed for Atlantic salmon (EFSA, 2010).

L'approvvigionamento di risorse minerali e la tutela dell'ambiente sono spesso considerate attività contrapposte ed inconciliabili, ma in realtà rappresentano due necessità imprescindibili per le società moderne. Le georisorse, in quanto non rinnovabili, devono essere valorizzate in maniera efficiente, adoperando strumenti che garantiscano la sostenibilità ambientale, sociale ed economica degli interventi estrattivi. La necessità di tutelare il territorio e migliorare la qualità della vita delle comunità locali impone alla Pubblica Amministrazione di implementare misure per la riqualificazione di aree degradate, ma fino ai primi anni '90 la normativa di settore non prevedeva strumenti a tal proposito, e ciò ha portato alla proliferazione di siti estrattivi dismessi e abbandonati senza interventi di recupero ambientale. Il presente lavoro di ricerca fornisce contributi innovativi alla pianificazione e progettazione sostenibile delle attività estrattive, attraverso l'adozione di un approccio multidisciplinare alla trattazione del tema e l'utilizzo esperto dei Sistemi Informativi Geografici, in particolare GRASS GIS. A seguito di una approfondita analisi in merito agli strumenti e le procedure adottate nella pianificazione delle Attività Estrattive in Italia, sono stati sviluppati un metodo di indagine ed un sistema esperto per la previsione ed il controllo delle vibrazioni indotte nel terreno da volate in cava a cielo aperto, che consentono di ottimizzare la progettazione della volata e del sistema di monitoraggio delle vibrazioni grazie a specifici strumenti operativi implementati in GRASS GIS. A supporto di una più efficace programmazione di interventi di riqualificazione territoriale, è stata messa a punto una procedura per la selezione di siti dismessi e di potenziali interventi di riqualificazione, che ottimizza le attività di pianificazione individuando interventi caratterizzati da elevata sostenibilità ambientale, economica e sociale. I risultati ottenuti dimostrano la necessità di un approccio esperto alla pianificazione ed alla progettazione delle attività estrattive, incrementandone la sostenibilità attraverso l'adozione di strumenti operativi più efficienti. / The supply of mineral resources and environmental protection are often considered opposing and incompatible activities, but actually they represent two essential needs for modern societies. The geo-resources, being non-renewable, must be exploited efficiently, using appropriate instruments ensuring environmental, social and economic sustainability of minerals exploitation. The need to protect the environment and improve local communities quality of life requires the public authorities to implement measures for the rehabilitation of damaged areas, but until the early '90s extractive industry regulations did not provide instruments for this purpose, and this has led to the proliferation of abandoned and decommissioned mining sites without environmental reclamation. The present study provides innovative contributions to the sustainable planning and design of mining activities, by adopting a multidisciplinary approach to the research topics and the expert use of Geographic Information Systems, in particular GRASS GIS. After a detailed analysis about the tools and procedures adopted in the planning of mining activities in Italy, a method of investigation and an expert system have been developed for prediction and control of blast induced ground vibration in open-pit quarries, allowing the optimization of blast design and vibration monitoring system thanks specific operational tools implemented in GRASS GIS. In order to support a more effective planning of land rehabilitation, it's been developed develop a procedure for the selection of decommissioned sites and potential reclamation projects, which optimizes business planning by identifying interventions characterized by high environmental, economic and social sustainability. The results obtained demonstrate the need for an expert approach to mining planning and design, increasing its sustainability by adopting more efficient operational tools. / El suministro de recursos minerales y las actividades de protección del medio ambiente a menudo se consideran opuestos e irreconciliables, pero en realidad son dos requisitos esenciales para las sociedades modernas. Los geo-recursos, como no renovables, deben ser explotados de manera eficiente, utilizando las herramientas que aseguren la sostenibilidad ambiental, social y económica de la minería. La necesidad de preservar el territorio y mejorar la calidad de vida de las comunidades locales exige que las autoridades públicas pongan en práctica medidas para la rehabilitación de áreas degradadas, pero hasta los '90s la regulación del sector no proporcionaba herramientas para este fin, y esto ha llevado a la proliferación de sitios mineros abandonados y en desuso sin intervenciones de restauración. El presente trabajo aporta contribuciones innovadoras a la planificación sostenible y el diseño de las actividades mineras, mediante la adopción de un enfoque multidisciplinar para el tratamiento del tema y el uso experto de Sistemas de Información Geográfica, GRASS GIS en particular. Tras un análisis exhaustivo de las herramientas y procedimientos adoptados en la planificación de las actividades mineras en Italia, han sido desarrollados un método de investigación y un sistema experto para la predicción y el control de las vibraciones inducidas en el suelo por voladura en canteras a tajo abierto, que permiten optimizar el diseño de voladura y el sistema de monitorización de vibraciones, con herramientas específicas ejecutados en GRASS GIS. Para apoyar una planificación más eficaz de intervenciones de reconstrucción, se ha establecido un procedimiento para la selección de posibles canteras abandonadas y soluciones de recuperación , que optimiza la planificación mediante la identificación de las intervenciones que se caracterizan por alto impacto ambiental, económico y social. Los resultados obtenidos demuestran la necesidad de un enfoque experto para la planificación y el diseño de las actividades mineras.

Systemic risk is the protagonist of the recent financial crisis. This thesis proposes a definition and a propagation mechanism for systemic risk. Risk management has a direct linkage with capital management, when addressing the question that the risk handled by a financial institution is compatible with the amount of equity available. This thesis proposes a risk management of liquid market variables, which compose the assets of a bank, based on the statistical tool of PCA. The principal component analysis will define the PCR, or Principal Components of Risk. Such definition of Risk will be adopted to test if the risk represented by PCR is explanatory of the movements of equity and/or debt for the banks included in the in the index Itraxx financial senior: the results of these regressions will be compared with a formal Capital Adequacy test in order to assess the financial soundness of the main financial European institutions. / This thesis also proposes a reading of financial CDS as influenced by the variables explanatory of liquidity existing in a financial system: the first part of the thesis explores such linkage in the period 2008-2012.

L'epatite E è una malattia umana con caratteristiche di epatite acuta, causata da un ssRNA virus (HEV). Nel 1997, HEV è stato identificato per la prima volta nei suini (SwHEV). In seguito, diverse evidenze, tra cui la vicinanza genetica tra ceppi umani e suini, suggerirono la trasmissione zoonotica del virus. Nella presente tesi, l’identificazione di SwHEV è stata condotta mediante ricerca di porzioni di genoma virale attraverso RT-PCR. Dal 2011 al 2013, sono stati analizzati 343 campioni fecali (da 19 allevamenti) e 70 bili (da 2 macelli) prelevati da altrettanti suini, in diverse Regioni italiane. E’ stato inoltre condotto uno studio retrospettivo su 78 feci (da 3 allevamenti) raccolte nel 2000. Il virus è stato identificato nel 24,5% e 19,2% delle feci raccolte rispettivamente nel 2011-2013 e nel 2000. Nessuna bile è risultata positiva. Mediante sequenziamento del genoma intero di uno dei virus identificati, è stata condotta l’analisi filogenetica per valutarne il grado di correlazione con alti ceppi suini e umani. La presenza di HEV è stata valutata lungo la filiera di produzione suina, dal macello al punto vendita. Trentaquattro campioni di feci, fegato e muscolo sono stati raccolti in un macello da altrettanti suini sani (età:6-7 mesi). Quattordici feci e 2 fegati, sono risultati positivi per HEV. Sono state prelevate 129 salsicce sia allo stabilimento di trasformazione sia alla vendita, ma nessuna è risultata positiva. La presenza di HEV è stata valutata anche nelle salsicce di fegato, fresche e secche, acquistate presso una macelleria. Il genoma virale è stato rilevato nel 22,2% delle salsicce fresche e nel 4,3 % di quelle secche ma la vitalità del virus non è stata dimostrata. In conclusione, lo studio condotto ha confermato l’ampia circolazione di HEV nei suini e la possibile contaminazione dei prodotti carnei derivati, confermando la necessità di una continua sorveglianza. / Hepatitis E is an acute disease of humans, caused by a positive ss RNA virus, Hepatitis E virus (HEV). Several evidences, including genetic similarity between human and swine HEV strains from the same area, suggest zoonotic transmission. From 2011 to 2013, we conducted a survey for HEV in 19 swine farms and 2 slaughterhouses in different Italian regions, collecting 343 feces and 70 bile samples. Moreover, a retrospective study was conducted on 78 animals housed in 3 farms locate in Northern Italy and collected in 2000. Overall HEV was detected in 24.5% and 19.2% of fecal samples collected in 2011-2013 and in 2000, respectively. On the contrary, none of bile samples was positive. Furthermore, the genome of one SwHEV strain was completely sequenced to evaluate possible correlation with swine and human HEV strains. We investigated presence of HEV in a swine food chain from farm to finish products, enrolling a big Italian factory which trades pig meat across the country. Thirty-four feces, liver and muscle samples were collected in a slaughterhouse from 34 clinically healthy pigs, aged 6-7 month old. At slaughterhouse 14 fecal samples and 2 liver, resulted positive for HEV. Moreover, none of the sausages (129) collected at processing and point of sale were positive. We have also evaluated the presence of HEV and fecal cross-contamination in pork liver sausages bought at a grocery in Italy. The genome of HEV was detected in both raw (22.2%) and dry (4.3%) liver sausages, but the viability of the virus was not demonstrated. Finally, several cell lines were inoculated with HEV-positive fecal and pork liver samples to attempt HEV replication but virus growth was not established.

Toxoplasma gondii is an obligate intracellular parasite capable of infecting virtually all warm-blooded species, including humans, but cats are the only definitive hosts. Humans or animals acquire T. gondii infection by ingesting food or water contaminated with sporulated oocysts or by ingesting tissue cysts containing bradyzoites. Toxoplasmosis has the highest human incidence among zoonotic parasitic diseases, but it is still considered an underreported zoonosis. The importance of T. gondii primary infection in livestock is related to the ability of the parasite to produce tissue cysts in infected animals, which may represent important sources of infection for humans. Consumption of undercooked mutton and pork are considered important sources of human Toxoplasma gondii. The first aim of this thesis was to develop a rapid and sensitive in- house indirect ELISA for the detection of antibodies against T. gondii in sheep sera. ROC-curve analysis showed high discriminatory power (AUC=0.999) and high sensitivity (99.4%) and specificity (99.8%) of the method. The ELISA was used to test a batch of sheep sera (375) collected in the Forli-Cesena district. The overall prevalence was estimated at 41.9% demonstrating that T. gondii infection is widely distributed in sheep reared in Forli-Cesena district. Since the epidemiological impact of waterborne transmission route of T.gondii to humans is now thought to be more significant than previously believed, the second aim of the thesis was to evaluate PCR based methods for detecting T. gondii DNA in raw and finished drinking water samples collected in Scotland. Samples were tested using a quantitative PCR on 529 bp repetitive elements. Only one raw water sample (0.3%), out of the 358 examined, tested T. gondii positive demonstrating that there is no evidence that tap water is a source of Toxoplasma infection in Scotland.

The main objective of this thesis is to explore the short and long run causality patterns in the finance – growth nexus and finance-growth-trade nexus before and after the global financial crisis, in the case of Albania. To this end we use quarterly data on real GDP, 13 proxy measures for financial development and the trade openness indicator for the period 1998Q1 – 2013Q2 and 1998Q1-2008Q3. Causality patterns will be explored in a VAR-VECM framework. For this purpose we will proceed as follows: (i) testing for the integration order of the variables; (ii) cointegration analysis and (iii) performing Granger causality tests in a VAR-VECM framework. In the finance-growth nexus, empirical evidence suggests for a positive long run relationship between finance and economic growth, with causality running from financial development to economic growth. The global financial crisis seems to have not affected the causality direction in the finance and growth nexus, thus supporting the finance led growth hypothesis in the long run in the case of Albania. In the finance-growth-trade openness nexus, we found evidence for a positive long run relationship the variables, with causality direction depending on the proxy used for financial development. When the pre-crisis sample is considered, we find evidence for causality running from financial development and trade openness to economic growth. The global financial crisis seems to have affected somewhat the causality direction in the finance-growth-trade nexus, which has become sensible to the proxy used for financial development. On the short run, empirical evidence suggests for a clear unidirectional relationship between finance and growth, with causality mostly running from economic growth to financial development. When we consider the per-crisis sub sample results are mixed, depending on the proxy used for financial development. The same results are confirmed when trade openness is taken into account.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Wisconsin--Madison, 1936. / Typescript. Includes abstract and vita. eContent provider-neutral record in process. Description based on print version record. Includes bibliographical references.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of North Texas, 2005. / Includes abstract. Also available via the World Wide Web. Includes bibliographical references.

Inaug.-Diss.--Freiburg.

The aims of this research study is to explore the opportunity to set up Performance Objectives (POs) parameters for specific risks in RTE products to propose for food industries and food authorities. In fact, even if microbiological criteria for Salmonella and Listeria monocytogenes Ready-to-Eat (RTE) products are included in the European Regulation, these parameters are not risk based and no microbiological criteria for Bacillus cereus in RTE products is present. For these reasons the behaviour of Salmonella enterica in RTE mixed salad, the microbiological characteristics in RTE spelt salad, and the definition of POs for Bacillus cereus and Listeria monocytogenes in RTE spelt salad has been assessed. Based on the data produced can be drawn the following conclusions: 1. A rapid growth of Salmonella enterica may occurr in mixed ingredient salads, and strict temperature control during the production chain of the product is critical. 2. Spelt salad is characterized by the presence of high number of Lactic Acid Bacteria. Listeria spp. and Enterobacteriaceae, on the contrary, did not grow during the shlef life, probably due to the relevant metabolic activity of LAB. 3. The use of spelt and cheese compliant with the suggested POs might significantly reduce the incidence of foodborne intoxications due to Bacillus cereus and Listeria monocytogenes and the proportions of recalls, causing huge economic losses for food companies commercializing RTE products. 4. The approach to calculate the POs values and reported in my work can be easily adapted to different food/risk combination as well as to any changes in the formulation of the same food products. 5. The optimized sampling plans in term of number of samples to collect can be derive in order to verify the compliance to POs values selected.